352
increase the Police Vote by $10,000 odd.
They also want a new Police Launch, to cost $15,000, for work outside the Harbour, for which the existing launch is unsafe.
The Gaol Vote has increased by $11,200 odd, $4,000 of this is for Provisions for Prisoners "largely due to the greatly increased number of prisoners with sentences of 2 years and upwards convicted since the taking over of the New Territory".
The increases in the staff of the Sanitary Department have mostly been approved; the others are Chinese coolies, etc., paid out of the Plague Vote in 1901.
There are also items of $1,000 for bonuses for successful vaccinations: $5,000 for a new disinfector; $10,000 anticipated increase in the new contract for scavenging; and expenses consequent on Government taking over the Animal Depots and Slaughter Houses. Total increase, $34,000. We cannot object.
Miscellaneous Expenditure. As usual, not very satisfactory. "Loss in exchange on Indian Staff Remittances" has increased $8,000 ("underestimated"). Expenses of the New Territory ($10,000) and Plague Expenses ($20,000) have been transferred from "Other Miscellaneous Services," increasing largely in the process; yet the original vote has doubled (to $20,000), and this is explained by its having been "largely underestimated".
Military Expenditure has increased $164,498. This is almost entirely due to the automatic increase in the Military Contribution.
A. F.
5/12